SYNGENESIA MONOGAMIA. 



Panfies, or Heart's-Eafe. AngUs, 



Sail-chuach. Gaulis. 



In corn-fields frequent, O . V-IX. 



The ftalk is weak, proftrate and branched : the 

 leaves are elliptical •, the ftipulee pinnatifid at 

 the bafe, the extreme lobe being oval, obtufe, 

 and a little ferrated, refembling a fmall leaf. 

 The peduncles are comprelTed. The Braciea 

 haflate, with two obfolete dents on each fide at 

 at the bafe. The flower varies greatly, the pe- 

 tals being often of two, and fometimes of three 

 colours, a dark velvet-purple, vellow and blue, 

 ftreaked at the bafe with blackilh veins. This 

 eleo-ant colouring has gained it a place in almoft 

 every garden. In iw'wild flate however, it is 

 feldom lb very fpecious, the flower being com- 

 monly fmaller, the two upper petals of a whitilh 

 colour, and the Icwermoil yellow flreaked wiih 

 dark lines ; or elfe the whole flower of a pale 

 blue colour. 



In JVf.T'wichJIjire and Worcefterfmre this plant is call- 

 ed by the common people Love in Idlenefs, and 

 therefore is doubtlefs the herb to which the in- 

 ventive fancy of Shake/pear attributes fuch ex- 

 traordinary virtues in the perfon of Oberon king 

 of the fairies, in the Midfmnmer Night's Dreatn. 

 Adl 2. fc. 2. 

 Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell, 

 It fell upon a little wejlern flower, * 



* The poet cdls it a little weftcrn flower, becaufe the fcene 

 0! his play is fixed at Athens, which is eallward of Creat-Britain. 



Before 



